Implement reports on minorities sincerely, says new NCM head

New Delhi, Sep 2 (UNI) Former Union Minister and veteran politician Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, who has been appointed chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), says his first priority would be to press for implementation of the various reports concerning minorities.

''Setting up of committees and commissions and bringing out of reports is useless unless they are implemented sincerely,'' Mr Qureshi, who assumes office from tomorrow, told UNI.

When asked specifically about the Sachar Comittee Report, he said the report was comprehensive, covering the maximum possible issues facing the Muslims, but it will have to be seen how effectively its recommendations were executed.

On the Committee recommending more powers for the Minorities Commission, he said definitely it would be welcome if the Commission was given more powers as it would help perform its task more effectively.

Mr Qureshi succeeds former diplomat Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who has been elected as the 13th Vice-President of India.

The term of Mr Qureshi, a former Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president and a former Governor, would be for three years from the date he assumes office.

Replying to a question, Mr Qureshi said the task ahead of him was very challenging, as India has a number of minorities with their own specific problems.

''We would have to maintain a balance in the attention to their problems, though it was true that some minorities had problems very different from others,'' he said replying to a question.

There is need to instill confidence in minorities about their security of life and property, and if the NCM was not able to do that it would be a useless body, he said.

Minorities should feel that they have a stake in the continuation of democratic system and they were equal participants, he added.

Asked about the problems of Kashmiri Pandits, Mr Qureshi said all conditions should be created for the safe return of these people to the valley.

''Kashmiri Pandits have contributed greatly to the culture and life of Kashmir and they are its inalienable part.

I would wish they could return to the valley and settle among the Muslims. ''I am not in favour of ghettoisation. It would be better if enough degree of confidence developed between Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits develops and they could live together,'' he said.

Mr Qureshi, who carries with him a lot of administrative and politcal experience, says there is the need to have deep understanding of the problems faced by various minorities.

''It should not be just a tokenism. Unless a deep understanding is there, the respsonse will always be token and misplaced,'' he added.

Born on November 24, 1929, Mr Qureshi has served in various capacities in his long and active political career.

At the Centre he has held the portfolios of Commerce, Steel&Heavy Engineering, Railways, Tourism&Civil Aviation.

He also served as the governor of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Qureshi hails from Jammu and Kashmir capital Srinagar.

UNI